Posted on 08/14/2014 4:22:11 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Sens. Rand Paul and Ted Cruz are weighing in on the violence in Ferguson, Missouri, staking out ground on a racially charged issue ahead of their possible 2016 presidential bids.
In a highly personal Time op-ed, Paul (R-Ky.) bluntly connected race to the treatment of African-Americans who have gathered in Ferguson since police killed teenager Michael Brown. Paul said that when he was young, he might have “smarted off” but he “wouldn’t have expected to be shot.”
“Given the racial disparities in our criminal justice system, it is impossible for African-Americans not to feel like their government is particularly targeting them,” Paul wrote. “This is part of the anguish we are seeing in the tragic events outside of St. Louis, Missouri. It is what the citizens of Ferguson feel when there is an unfortunate and heartbreaking shooting like the incident with Michael Brown.”
Paul, who has tried to broaden the GOP’s appeal to African-Americans, also joined Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) and other leading Democrats in calling for the demilitarization of police forces in Ferguson, who have appeared heavily armed and used tear gas to disperse heated protests.
“There is a legitimate role for the police to keep the peace, but there should be a difference between a police response and a military response. The images and scenes we continue to see in Ferguson resemble war more than traditional police action,” Paul wrote. “Washington has incentivized the militarization of local police precincts by using federal dollars to help municipal governments build what are essentially small armies.”
Cruz was more measured than Paul, calling the situation “tragic” and chastising police for arresting two reporters covering the city’s tension. The Texas Republican called for an end to the “unrest” in the city and urged demonstrators to reject violence.
“Together, we should all mourn the loss of life in Ferguson, Missouri, and work to keep our communities safe and free. Police officers risk their lives every day to keep us safe, and any time a young man loses his life in a confrontation with law enforcement, it is tragic,” Cruz said in a Facebook statement. “Civil liberties must be protected, but violence is not the answer. Once the unrest is brought to an end, we should examine carefully what happened to ensure that justice is served.”
Both Paul and Cruz lean libertarian on issues like criminal justice reform and government surveillance — and each found examples in Ferguson of government overreach in both areas.
Cruz criticized the detention of reporters Wesley Lowery of The Washington Post and Huffington Post reporter Ryan Reilly of The Huffington Post on Wednesday. The two journalists were arrested at a McDonald’s in Ferguson on Wednesday night in a high-profile fashion that has sparked heated reactions toward the police and the news media.
“Reporters should never be detained — a free press is too important — simply for doing their jobs,” Cruz said.
And through the lens of Ferguson, Paul said the civil rights and law enforcement communities’ posture towards U.S. citizens has now reached a “near-crisis point.”
“When you couple this militarization of law enforcement with an erosion of civil liberties and due process that allows the police to become judge and jury—national security letters, no-knock searches, broad general warrants, pre-conviction forfeiture—we begin to have a very serious problem on our hands,” Paul said.
Both are correct. based on the facts so far, I know my Office would be seriously considering manslaughter/murder charges for the Officer.
Know this. One day those militarized police are coming after you.
Take away the ninja outfits, get rid of the SWAT boys who can’t wait to play with their military toys, and do not allow any ex-military personnel to join the police force until they’ve been successfully integrated into civilian life for ten years.
Reason 2,892,467 why Rand Paul is unfit to be even considered as President. He's channelling the racist diatribes of Sharpton, Jackson and the race-baiters of the NAACP. LEO go out of their way to handle blacks with kid gloves. The reality is that white Christian Conservatives are in the crosshairs of obama's militarized police forces.
Rand Paul is a pandering politician. Ted Cruz is a patriot.
I do know that about the militarized police. Unfortunately it is what America is becoming.
This is rank BS. Blacks get away with stuff that whites are routinely shot for pulling. Say what you will about Ron, but he never spouted this kind of pandering garbage.
And I will raise at least a million dollars for him, should he run. I invite others here to assist me.
Thus it already is between the peeps and the IRS, EPA, BATFE, et. al.
I really hope they come after you. That would make my day.
I will definitely contribute, although I sometimes worry that’s the kiss of death.
Not me. Wouldn’t give him a dime. He’s a punk.
He thinks he’s going to be the candidate that pulls a significant portion of black people back to the Republican party. Jack Kemp 2.0 or some such.
Ted Cruz is a punk? Please explain.
Wait, are we talking about Paul or Cruz. I’m getting confused. Cruz I would support, Paul’s a punk.
Bingo
Both of these guys are talking before they know the facts. The young man did far more than “smart off”. According to some conservative radio hosts, the reporters were occupying McDonald’s, taking up tables, setting up a command headquarters, and interfering with the operation of the restaurant. They were asked to leave and didn’t. The cops were called to remove them from private property.
What would you do if you were trying to run a business under such circumstances? McDonald’s may be a large corporation, but these are small franchises that run on a tight profit margin. The businesses in that town are already suffering mega-losses, much of which will not be covered by insurance on account of clauses that exempt damage from insurrection, riot, mob action.
Both Paul and Cruz are making mistakes. In addition, the Obama administration and people like McCaskill are using this to divide conservatives. Obama is the one who militarized the police and most government agencies. McCaskill is his right-hand woman, so it’s rather hypocritical of her to now come out against it. But—never let a good crisis go to waste. Don’t be fooled. WAIT for the investigation and the truth.
Sorry about that. Having a stressful day and the last name I read was Paul’s so that’s the name that stuck with me when I read your post. I think I need to go to bed. :)
Thanks, Catherine. :)
I would raise money for Rand to go home, resign, pack up his things and move to Argentina with his sire. That’s about it.
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